January 30, 2025 – With support from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the City of Decatur is preparing a site located north of I-72 for potential new development.
Decatur was awarded $3.07 million from the DCEO’s Regional Site Readiness Program which will help plan and construct a 1.1-mile water main extension to a prime industrial development area north of I-72. The new water main will service an area ready for development thanks to existing sewer infrastructure, power from a nearby Ameren substation, and proximity to I-72.
The City of Decatur’s water masterplan has long called for a 12-inch water main running north of Brush College Road to Cundiff Road to service this area, and eventually west to create a loop with existing watermains in Hickory Point Road near the Village of Forsyth. This project will construct the north-south segment of the potential loop. Additionally, the 2009 Macon County Comprehensive Plan identifies this area as a logical extension of the industrial zone in the City’s northeast quadrant. Plans are at www.decaturil.gov/174/Planning-and-Development-Division
Beyond the water main construction, this DCEO grant provides funding for preliminary engineering to supply ground water to this area. A potential source is the City’s DeWitt County wellfields. Constructing a pipeline to connect these locations could provide low-cost groundwater for industrial use.
The DCEO grant award is $2,918,000 for the water main extension and $149,500 for the water infrastructure study/preliminary engineering.
